In Final Destination 5, Death makes the point yet again that it will not be cheated. And happily for those of us who enjoy the FD series' grotesquely clever premise beyond reason, unfortunate folks still refuse to pay attention, with inventively dire consequences.

Parents need to know that this is the fifth entry in a gory horror franchise that made the intensity-upping move to 3D with the previous entry, The Final Destination. As always, the killer here is death itself, which stalks a group of teens and/or twentysomethings without remorse or recourse -- and with tons of blood and gore. Characters are brutally sliced, stabbed, burned, dropped from heights, crushed, and snapped in half. There's also a bit of kissing and sexual innuendo, some language (including "f--k" and "s--t"), and some drinking.

Families can talk about the movie's violence. How does the 3D affect the impact of the movie's gory, grisly murder scenes? Is any of it intended to be realistic?

Why would audiences want to see a movie like this? Is there something cathartic about facing death in this way?

Are humans really subject to fate, or do we have free will? How much control do we really have over our lives?

The good stuff

Messages: Death is an unknowable, unstoppable force; it determines that the time has come for eight twentysomething professionals and kills them off relentlessly. No amount of good, evil, bravery, or empathy will stop it.

Role models: The hero shows bravery and responsibility from time to time but also some selfishness. The rest of the characters don't fare as well.

What to watch for

Violence: The movie is focused on gruesome death for entertainment's sake: The more shocking, the better. Characters are stabbed, sliced, and battered. They fall from great heights and splat on the ground. They snap in half. Flesh is burned. Skulls are impaled. One character is seared with a laser intended for eye surgery. All of this is presented in 3D, with sharp, deadly things protruding from the screen and into the audience. The end credits include a montage of the grisliest scenes from the first four films in the series.

Sex: Characters kiss, and there's some minor sexual innuendo. One female character dresses in revealing clothing; she takes off her top to reveal a skimpy, black bra.

Language: Language isn't constant, but "f--k" is heard more than once. Other words include "s--t," "t-ts," "hell," "damn," "oh my God," and "a--hole."

Consumerism: Not applicable

Drinking, drugs and smoking: Characters drink beer and whisky to blow off steam after a tragedy. One character appears to drink too much, and it affects him negatively.

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